Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property to Hold First Online Press Conference on High Quality Patents and Trademarks

Washington - The Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO James Rogan will hold an inaugural online press conference, to discuss how America's innovators will be assured high-quality patents within an examination period of 18 months and trademarks within 12 months, by far the fastest times in the world, with full implementation of the USPTO's 21st Century Strategic Plan. Under Secretary Rogan also will discuss the plans provision for improving issue times for patents and trademarks. After his introductory presentation, Under Secretary Rogan will take questions from the press.

Instructions for participating in the press conference can be found by logging on to the USPTO's Web site at www.uspto.gov , after 10:45 a.m. ET, then clicking on the home page link marked, " Online Press Conference with the Director of the USPTO ."